News


downsmail.co.uk NewLine is pulling together


NEWLine Learning Academy has halted its decline in standards and teaching is improving, say Ofsted inspectors – and the Trust behind the school. A new headteacher and new


chairman of governors alongside a corporate management team have seen improvements in pupil behav- iour and attendance. While the inspection in October


concluded the school required im- provement in all areas, it acknowl- edged great strides forward have beenmade. Future Schools Trust, which runs


New Line Learning Academy in Boughton Lane, Loose, catering for 570 boys and girls aged 11-16, also runs nearby Cornwallis Academy and Tiger Primary School. Chief executive Joshua Coleman


said: “Wewere already aware of the issues highlighted by the Ofsted in- spectors and have been taking measures to address them. “Naturally, we are disappointed


that they classified the academy as still ‘requiring improvement’ when we have made huge strides in progress in the past 12months. “The trust’s new ‘gateway’ facil-


ity,which opened at the start of the autumn term, is designed to help pupils with special educational needs, as well as complex mental and emotional issues. “This is an innovative approach


Pupils and staff at New Line Learning Acad- emy have been pulling to- gether to im- prove standards


and onewhichwe believewill reap huge rewards in due course, en- abling those pupils to remain in mainstream schooling rather than being placed in a pupil referral unit, with all that this entails.” Around 50%of the pupils atNew


Line Learning are disadvantaged – much higher than the national aver- age – and the proportion of pupils with special educational needs or


Speeding drivers: please think again


DRIVERS including one travelling at 82mph along the West Malling by-pass have been stopped by Kent Police during a week-long operation to cut speeds. A bus driver travelling at 40mph on the


Ashford Road in Maidstone in a 30mph limit,with passengers on board,was another of the 164 motorists stopped during the Speed Down Save Lives campaign, during Brake’s Road Safety Week which ran from November 20-26. Ninety-four drivers were issued with a Traffic Offence Report (TOR) and will find out in the coming weeks whether theywill received a fixed penalty or court summonse. Another 70 drivers were given verbal


warnings by officers. Sgt SteveDunnett, fromKent Police Roads


Policing Unit, said: “Drivers should always consider that a child could run out between parked cars into their path. Slowing down could save a life.” Kent Fire and Rescue Service also sup-


ported the campaign by talking to drivers at service stations and offering advice encour- aging the public to slowdown. Operations director Sean Bone-Knell, said:


“All too often our firefighters attend road crashes where the contributing factor has been that the driver has been driving too fast.Wewant to encourage people across the county to support us.”


32 Maidstone January 2018


disabilities ismuch higher, too. Classes therefore have pupils of


differing abilities and their progress is inconsistent, although the cur- riculum has been adjusted to im- prove both its breadth and balance. The report says: “Pupils, staff and


visitors to the school all report a marked change in attitudes and leaders have undertaken a robust overhaul of policies and procedures


Drama project’s volunteer award


A DRAMA project providing a stage for those with learning difficulties inMaidstone has picked up a Queen’s award. Community arts project Square Pegs picked up


the 2017Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service at Mid Kent College on Thursday November 23. A delighted Beth James, director at Square


Pegs, described the award – the only one received in Kent - as equivalent to anMBE. The organisationmakes use of young and en-


thusiastic volunteers to assist seven- to 25-year- olds from Maidstone and across the area, to shine in the face of difficulties including autism. Beth said: “We use drama, music, movement


and creative classes to develop confidence, self- esteem, communication skills and wellbeing in a supportive environmentwhere everyone feels val-


ued. We focus on the abilities of the individual, and find ways for everyone to shine.” The organisation has been running for 12


years, and is based at The Brook Theatre, Chatham. Pictured here are Beth James receiving the


award from Vice Lord Lieutenant Richard Old- field.


Police’s Christmas riverbank presence


POLICE officers will maintain a visible pres- ence along the riverbank inMaidstone during December in an effort to keep revellers safe in the run-up to Christmas. The move follows a number of occasions


when people have got into difficulties after entering the river while socialising or have fallen in - in some cases with fatal conse- quences. Kent Police will be supporting Kent Search


andRescuewith the safety patrols on the river on key dates during the month, with rescue boats and specially trained teams on hand to assist anyonewho gets into difficulty.It forms part of a ‘Safe andDry’ campaign,which calls on the public to keep away from rivers on nights out and to avoid going home alone. Assistant chief constable Jo Shiner sais he


wants people to enjoy themselves but asks that they do so responsibly.


to tackle poor attendance.” The report commends head-


teacher PaulMurphy for “getting to grips”with some of the issues at the school. Inspectors state: “The headteacher


in his current role, and in his role as deputy head last year, has worked effectively to get to grips with the school’s weaknesses. The impact of this approach is clearly evidenced in the calm, purposeful, school envi- ronment.” Mr Murphy was also praised in


the report for setting high standards and demanding them of his senior management team. But he expressed disappointment


at the report, adding: “The inspec- tion was carried out inmy first half term as head – something which is virtually unheard of. "Had the inspectors come a few


weeks later, or early in the New Year, we would have new sets of data which would have clearly evi- denced the improvements being made. "The report admits that the school


is improving and the picture painted in Week 10 is much better than the one the inspectors saw in Week 5.” Inspectors found pupils felt safe


and well cared for and classrooms were calm environments where pupils paid attention and made an effort.


downsmail.co.uk Mum’s warning after cat shot by rifle


A YOUNG family from Bearsted has been devastated by the cruelty of an attack on their two-year-old cat. Princess - a grey and white short-


haired - was shot twice with an air- rifle in her back leg. She struggled home to Cross Keys


where an RSPCA officer was needed to catch the distressed animal be- fore her injuries could be examined. The injuries required a £900 oper-


ation, duringwhich the decisionwas taken to amputate her leg. Princess now faces a three-week long recov- ery, duringwhich shewill need to ad- just to walking on three legs. Her owner, Tracey Orpin, 35, said:


“This has been so upsetting for the whole family and our much-loved pet. I am disgusted, as are the chil- dren, that someone could do such a thing.


“Princess never strays far, so I can


only assume her attacker lives in the area. We are glad she is alive, but I would warn other pet owners to keep their animals indoors.” The at-


tack took place on Thursday No- vember 17. Thematter has been re- ported to the police who are investigating a number of cat inci- dents inMaidstone.


Retirement for Leeds Castle estate director


STAFF at Leeds Castle have wished estate director Bill Lash (pictured) a happy retirement after nine years at the historic tourist at- traction nearMaidstone. Mr Lash joined the castle teamin


April 2009 as director of operations and business development. Since 2016, he has been the castle’s deputy chief executive and estate and proj- ects director after standing in as act- ing chief executive when Victoria Wallacemoved on. Chief Executive Sir David Steel


gave hima personal vote of thanks, saying he was very sad to see him go.He added: “Bill has contributed somuch to the estate, playing a vital part in liaisonwith the parishes and MaidstoneCouncil, amongmany of his other tasks and responsibilities. “We wish Mr Lash and his wife


much happiness for the future and they leave with our heartfelt thanks.”


Before joining the castle,Mr Lash was responsible for


running


WoburnAbbey in Bedfordshire.Re- sponsible firstly to theMarquess of Tavistock and latterly to theDuke of Bedford, the significant 18th Cen- tury stately home housed one of the finest art collections in private hands in the country. He was there for 10 years.Like SirDavid, his early


career was in the Forces, as an offi- cer in the RoyalMarines. He began his varied service in


1967 as a commando in the Far East, Northern Ireland and the Mediter- ranean and spent several years in Norway,where he became an inter- preter and military attache at the British Embassy,Oslo, from1989 to 1992. He also spent time in SouthAfrica


as chief of staff to the British Mili- tary Advisory Team at President Mandela’s request, following the 1994 elections, to monitor the inte- gration of ANC fighters into the newSouthAfrican national defence forces. His final post was as Assistant


Chief of Staff at theAdmiral’s Fleet headquarters. Mr Lash and hiswife Patriciawill


live in the Cotswolds, where he hopes to continue hiswork for local causes.


Carol Factor bringsmusic to shopping site


MAIDSTONE charities have been invited to raise their voices this Christmas in a Carol Factor con- test. The RoyalNational Lifeboat In-


stitution (pictured) and Age UK are among those who will be per- forming carols in the run-up to Christmas at TheMall in the town centre. The public will be able to show


their support by donating money, with the charity earning the most receiving the Carol Factor 2017 title, andmatch funding fromThe


Mall for their cause. Charities will be hitting the high notes in The Carol Factor


contest on Level 3 of the town cen- tre shopping mall, outside Bon Marche, until December 17.


News


Trio arrested over supply


A MAIDSTONE man has been arrested for allowing his house in the town to be used for the supply of drugs. The 26-year-old was held on


Monday December 4 at 1.50pm on “suspicion of permitting his home address to be used for the supply of controlled drugs”, Kent Police say. It followed the previous arrest


a week previously of two teenagers in the town. A 15-year-old boy of no fixed


address and an 18-year-old from Lewishamwere arrested in con- nection with the supply of con- trolled drugs with intent to supply and a quantity of drugs believed to be heroin and co- cainewas seized. The Maidstone man has been


released under investigation, while the teenagers were bailed on Friday, December 22.


Fire destroys pair’s caravan


TWO people have been made homeless just weeks before Christmas following a fire in the caravan they shared in Maid- stone. Kent Fire and Rescue Service


was called to the blaze in San- dling at just after 1pmonDecem- ber 6. Crews arrivedtofindthefire in


the caravan and an out-building werewell alight. They used hose jets and foamto stemthe flames. It is understand neither of the


occupants were hurt, but will need rehoming. Red Cross volunteers were


called to offer the pair welfare and emotional support. The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.


Book sale is the best yet


THE Great Leeds Book Sale – a massive teamevent in the village – beat all records. Not only did helpers get all the


books set out and the church re- stored in their quickest time, but also managed to raise £1,162 – breaking the £1,000 barrier for the first time. Thanks have gone out to those


who supported the event and gave books and donations in- cluding cash, cakes, jamand raf- fle prizes. Aspokesman said: “Thewhole


book sale event is amassive team effort, involving somany helpers before,during, andafter thedays of the sale itself.Youshouldall be proud of yourselves,well done.”


Maidstone January 2018 33


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